A smokefree home is…
A healthier home for the whole family! This is the tenth of a 12 part series from Rotherham’s Director of Public Health, and the first time the Public Health report has been produced directly for the public. For more information, or if you have any comments, please contact the Rotherham Director of Public Health, Dr John Radford, on john.radford@rotherham.nhs.uk What is Smokefree Homes?
Smokefree Homes is a voluntary initiative to protect children and non-smokers from the hazards of tobacco smoke. A Smokefree Home is a home and car where nobody smokes inside, including visitors.
What are the risks of smoking in the home or car?
• The home and car are the major source of children’s exposure to tobacco smoke. • Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 toxic chemicals too small for the eye to see or the nose to smell. Over 50 of these chemicals cause cancer. • 90% of these chemicals stick to the walls, clothes, furniture, hair, and skin for up to two weeks. • Children and babies exposed to tobacco smoke in the home and car inhale the equivalent of 60 -150 cigarettes a year. • Over 100 children are admitted into hospital in Rotherham every year because of illnesses made worse by tobacco smoke. • Tobacco smoke increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death.
What can I do?
You are four times more likely to stop smoking and stay stopped if you make your home smokefree, so signing up to Smokefree Homes could be your first step towards stopping smoking. Everyone signing up to make their home smokefree also receives a FREE goody pack!
Smokefree Home success …
Nicole Shackley 26, has managed to kick a 20 a day habit and says signing up to Smokefree Homes has helped her stay stopped. Stopping smoking can be hard, but having a Smokefree Home can help. Nicole signed up to make her home smokefree to protect her son from tobacco smoke, she said; “I was decorating the house one day and noticed how stained the ceilings were from the tobacco smoke so I thought if that’s what it’s doing in my home, what’s it doing inside our bodies?” Since not allowing smoking in her home Nicole has noticed the house is cleaner and smells nicer. Her advice for people trying to quit smoking is “Sign up to Smokefree Homes, tell everyone you are trying to quit, buy lots of mints and keep busy.” Using the extra money she has saved from not smoking, Nicole bought cookery books and fresh food ingredients to make healthy meals, which has helped her lose an amazing three stone and given her the confidence to start a Degree course in Business Studies. Well done Nicole!
Rotherham Stop Smoking Service
We’ve just refurbished and re-launched the ‘Quit-Stop’ at 16 Bridgegate. No appointment is needed you can just call in, or if you prefer, appointments are available. If you’re unable to visit the Quit-Stop, give us a ring. We’ve launched a dedicated out of hours telephone service which runs Monday to Thursday 5-8pm. To speak to an advisor call 01709 422444. You can now get FREE Nicotine Replacement Therapy to help you stop!
No Smoking Day - Break Free!
No Smoking Day is on Wednesday 10th March - every year a million people across the country try to stop on this day.
For more information contact: The Rotherham Stop Smoking Service - 01709 422444 Smokefree Homes - 01709 302088 Go online www.smokefreerotherham.co.uk